August 2012

Remove Grease from Green Dress

August 17, 2012

I bought this dress a couple of years back, and I absolutely LOVE it. It is one of my favorite things to wear, especially in the summer when it is so ridiculously hot out. I wore it on my 35th birthday, and somehow I ended up with grease all over the bottom of the dress. […]

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Fire Block

August 16, 2012

I have tried several types of Fire Brick, and each has served its own purpose. There is the traditional firebrick to help conduct heat and provide a sturdy work surface. There is the ultra-soft block; I’m not sure what it is made of since it was given to me. I want to say its Gypsum, […]

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Realspace® Clamp-On Magnifier Task Lamp

August 15, 2012

I have tried several things trying to find the perfect lighting situation for my workspace. I’ve tried different bulbs in the overhead lights, I’ve tried Ottlite clamp on lights, and now these. Realspace Clamp-On Magnifier Task Lamps. I was very happy with the Ottlite Clamp On light, but I still couldn’t see the pieces I […]

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Bead Stopper

August 14, 2012

As some of you may know, my adventures in jewelry making started with simple beading. I wish I would have found something like the Bead Stoppers I bought from Fire Mountain Gems back then. I say like, because I was not happy with these. Sorry FM, but these are going to be the first product […]

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Catch Pan for Workbench

August 8, 2012

I am lucky in the fact that I have some very handy friends. When I moved into my new house, I was set on making a workshop in my garage. I needed a place to work on my metalsmith projects, and open flames in the house were just not going to work. My good friends […]

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Rosewood Large-Hole Woven Wire Drawplate

August 5, 2012

One of my favorite techniques in making jewelry is the Viking Knit. I’m not sure why I love it so much, but I seem to not be able to get enough of it. It’s so simple to make and looks so elegant.   I use 28 gauge fine silver wire, an old wooden spool (trick […]

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Xuron Maxi-Shear Flush Cutters Without Retainer

August 4, 2012

Buying these Xuron Maxi-Shear Flush Cutters Without Retainer from Rio Grande have saved so much pain and hassle. When I enrolled in my first Metal Arts class, we were given a supply list. On that list was a pair of tin snips. These I used to do EVERYTHING from cutting metal to cutting all sorts […]

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Crimping Pliers

August 3, 2012

When I first started beading, I bought the minimum tools needed, but man how I wish I had bought these Crimping Pliers from Fire Mountain Gems all those years ago.   My life has not been the same since I started using these. Before, I would just use my flat nose pliers and just smash […]

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Tool Magic Pliers Coating

August 2, 2012

In keeping with my pliers review yesterday, I thought it would be fitting to do a review on “Tool Magic Rubber Coating” that I bought from Fire Mountain Gems. This tool is to help prevent marks on your metal. Since I didn’t buy pliers that came with the plastic guards, I figured I’d try this […]

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Stainless Steel Fine-Tip Pliers Set

August 1, 2012

One of the first pieces I bought was a Stainless Steel Fine-Tip Pliers Set from Rio Grande.   In the past I had purchased a couple of other “all in one” pliers when I started making beaded pieces, but there is no substitute for the right pliers for the right job. These were fairly in […]

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